William Peace University
Raleigh, North Carolina · Private Nonprofit · 94.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 27/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
William Peace University in Raleigh, North Carolina scores ROI 27 (Below Benchmark) - a small private nonprofit with 666 undergraduates in the heart of Research Triangle Park. The school's fundamental problem is the gap between its costs and its outcomes: a $21,649 average net price against average 6-year earnings of $32,200 and a 19.5-year payback period. Fewer than half of enrolled students graduate (44.8%). Business Administration is the highest-earning program at 38 graduates per year; the remaining programs - Biology, Design, Psychology, Political Science - all post weak-to-poor debt ratios. The repayment rate of 61.4% signals that a significant share of graduates are struggling with their loans.
How William Peace University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score27/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period19.5 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
William Peace University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $34,176/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $34,176/yr |
| Average net price | $21,649/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $86,596 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $46,643 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $32,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $236 |
| Estimated payback period | 19.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 44.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 666 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $34,176/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $21,649/year, or roughly $86,596 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $15,779/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,565/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,250, which works out to about $236 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($32,200) and comes to 0.69, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $15,779 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,233 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,429 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,046 |
| $110,001+ | $30,565 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $15,779 per year - below the $21,649 average, reflecting genuine low-income aid. Over four years that is roughly $63,116. Against 6-year average earnings of $32,200 and a 44.8% completion rate, this is a high-risk investment for low-income families. The repayment rate of 61.4% indicates that many graduates - across all income levels - struggle with their loans.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30,001-48,000 bracket pays $18,233. The 48,001-75,000 bracket rises to $20,429, and the 75,001-110,000 bracket climbs to $23,046. The cost slope is moderate - about $7,000 across the middle-income range.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $30,565 per year. Over four years that is roughly $122,260. Against 10-year median earnings of $46,643 and a 19.5-year payback period, high-income families paying close to full freight at William Peace face a very long break-even horizon. The data does not support this cost level for most of the school's programs.
Earnings by Major
Top 6 most popular majors at William Peace University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $56,173 | C+ |
| Design and Applied Arts | $40,817 | D |
| Biology | $60,289 | D |
| Psychology | $44,997 | D |
| Political Science and Government | $57,305 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $50,090 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is William Peace's largest and most defensible program at 38 graduates per year. Median 1-year earnings of $47,278 and 4-year earnings of $56,173 reflect entry-level business roles in the Raleigh-Durham market. The 0.529 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade C+) with $25,000 median debt is functional - the best the school offers.
Political Science and Government
Political Science produces 12 graduates per year with median 1-year earnings of $41,509 and 4-year earnings of $57,305. Political science at small liberal arts colleges often serves pre-law students, government aspirants, or nonprofit sector workers. The 4-year earnings of $57,305 suggest some graduates transition into higher-earning roles over time - likely through graduate education or government sector advancement.
Biology
Biology produces 17 graduates per year. Median 1-year earnings of $39,710 and 4-year earnings of $60,289 reflect the pre-professional pathway most biology graduates take - the 4-year jump suggests graduate or professional school completion for a portion of the cohort. The 0.718 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade D) with $28,500 median debt indicates the debt load is borderline. Biology at William Peace as a terminal degree without professional school following delivers modest financial returns against this cost structure.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 50.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 61.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 59.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 66.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How William Peace University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 94.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 535-595 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 545-630 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-27 |
| Enrollment | 666 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 34.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,905 |
William Peace admits 94.3% of applicants - near-open enrollment. SAT Math 535-595, Reading 545-630; ACT 22-27. Despite the small school setting in Raleigh, admission standards are not a differentiating factor. The 44.8% completion rate means self-selection and persistence matter more than admission qualifications in predicting outcomes here.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Peace University (this school) | 27 | $21,649 | $46,643 |
| Thomas College | 28 | $18,885 | $44,991 |
| Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary | 25 | $4,543 | $17,360 |
| Barton College | 24 | $23,626 | $47,913 |
| Belmont Abbey College | 24 | $24,639 | $47,937 |
| Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies | 24 | $10,566 | $40,694 |
Who Thrives Here
William Peace fits a specific student: one who wants a small private liberal arts environment in Raleigh, has SAT 535-630 Math / 545-630 Reading or ACT 22-27, and is entering business administration or political science. With 34.3% Pell recipients, the school serves a substantial lower-income population at private-school costs. The 44.8% completion rate is the school's most critical risk for all students.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, William Peace University scores 27/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $21,649 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $46,643 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 19.5 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 44.8% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 61.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $22,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $32,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
William Peace University: Common Questions
Is William Peace University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. William Peace University scores 27/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $21,649 a year after aid against $46,643 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 19.5 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does William Peace University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $21,649 a year, or roughly $86,596 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do William Peace University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $46,643 ten years after enrolling, roughly $4,843 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off William Peace University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 19.5 years for William Peace University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do William Peace University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,250, against average earnings of $32,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at William Peace University?
The six-year graduation rate is 44.8%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.